The bill amends Section 40-8.9-9 of the General Laws to establish a long-term-care rebalancing system reform goal. It authorizes the secretary of the executive office of health and human services (EOHHS) to implement resource eligibility limits of $12,000 for single persons and $18,000 for couples for individuals with long-term-care needs who reside at home. The bill mandates that Medicaid-certified assisted living facilities and adult day service providers report semi-annually to the EOHHS regarding the number of persons served each month and the patients' certification categories for the prior six months.

The act emphasizes a person-centered approach that promotes individual choice and self-determination, ensuring access to a range of supportive services in community settings. It also includes provisions to enhance the capacity and quality of home- and community-based services, including the consolidation of existing services into a single system and the establishment of new payment methodologies.

These reforms aim to be implemented by July 1, 2025, and include the establishment of adult day services level of need criteria and an acuity-based, tiered-payment methodology to incentivize specialized services and accommodations for beneficiaries. The bill takes effect upon passage.

Statutes affected:
6074: 40-8.9-9